Spring.



W. J. PHELAN.`

sPn'ING. APPLICATION FILED PR. 19, 1009.

Patented Apr.4, 1911.

.Mw Mm k 8 e l nl EN @Q WITNESSES:

Untrnn VSTATES PATENT emilion.

lVlILIIiIAM J. PHELAN, OF BENNINGTON, VE}].`\IV.[ONT.y

ySpecification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 19, leoe. seran No. 490,840.

SPRING.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

To all whom "it mag/concern.'

- Be it known that I, I/VILLIAM J. PHELAN,

, a citizen ,of the United States, residing at i a specification.

the village of Bennington, in the count-y of Bennington and State ofI Vermont, have inventedV certain new and useful Improvements in Springs, of which the following is My invention relatieslto yvehicle springs, and the object of my invention is to provide v a spring, or series of springs soadjusted .and

connected up that the load thereon will be supported thereby, without the possibility of causing violent or sudden Ajarring or 'motion to the load, and so arranged that the load may-,effect theV spring in successive degrees,

whereby one portion or one of the separate parts going to make up the spring shall be acted upon before the others, together with such other objects, elements and combinationsias-vare hereinafter more particularly described and claimed. I accomplish these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation.` Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is a section with parts broken away of a modified form ofmy invention.

Similar letters 'refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The tubes, A and B, are arranged parallel to each other and preferably slightly separated, as'at C, and may be formed by coring out a casting- V. Within each tube I place a series of boxes, D. The boxes each containing a spring or suitable resilient member E. The boxes, D, are arranged so that when the spring is in lits normal position the tt'vo portions, a and b, which go to make up the boxes, D,'are extended, but when the spring, E, is contracted the two portions, a and b, will be drawn together. I preferably place wit-hin the boxes, D, springs dif'ering 1n resilient power or strength, placing in the boxes nearest the ends of the tubes, respectively, the lightest springs, those next being slightly heavier and those nearer the center i being still heavier.

vIn each of the tubes, A and B, in each end thereof, I place the pistons, G, G, and H, H. The piston rods, g, g, and h, L, are connected by link s, J, to the levers, Kv and L, respectively. The load, not shown, being carried at the ends of the levers, K and L. The levers, K and L, having portions, N, N, re-

speotively, which are fulcrumed, preferably by means of the boltsn, "n, to a casting carrying tubes A and B.

The casting, V, containing the tubes, A and B, may be attached to the axle and the levers, K and L, to the body or vice versa.

It will be readily seen that when the load presses on the lever, K, the pistons, G, G, will be forced into the tube, A, from each end thereof. The springs in the boxes, D, nearest the ends will be compressed and after the two portions, a andb, of the boxes have been thus brought together and indeed slightly before the meeting of the twov poradjoining boxes will be acted upon` and 'in the same manner and then springs in the boxes next adjoining them, whereby the load is gently, evenly and buoyantly carried by the spring. When any uneven surface of the road over which the vehicle carrying the spring is encounteredthe tendency to cause a jouncing will be taken up by the springs lin4 the tube B. The pistons, H, H, acting upon the springs in said tube in the same manner as has been described in reference to the action of the springs in tube A. The spring system in tubes A and B operates to carry the load on a' resilient cushion, because a movement of the load either up or down, such as may be occasionedby a swaying or undulating motion will be taken up. When the load is carried on the springs in the tube A those springs provide, as has already been stated, for a gradual, even, gentle adjustment of the load. When the load gives on one side, tending to rise, the links and pistons in the tube V operate upon the springs therein and tend to euualize and thus adjust the equilibriu'm of the load.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modied'form of my invention in lwhich I place check valves, O, between the adjacent ends D, and 'at the center of the tubes Iv place a pipe or suitable conveyer, P, leading to a reservoir, R, whereby air forced by the action of the pistons, G, G, and H, H, may be carried into the reservoir, where it may be used for any desired purpose. I preferably place a check valve, p, in the conveyer, P.

I do not limit myself to the number of springs used, nor to their arrangement regarding the difference in size or strength of the springs, as it may be advisable to make them all of the same size in some instances or to. have more or less in number than that of the boxes, v

shown in tne drawing, nor is it necessary in all 'cases to have two tubes or receptacles orthe springs, as in some-cases one is sufcient.

l have shown the boxes, D, made up of two' parts, a, and Z), they may be compressible boxes or telescopic in construction.

vWhat vI claim as my invention andjdesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vehicle spring comprising a series of springs; compressible boxes within which said springs areplaced, respectively; a receptacle within which said boxes and springs are placed; pistons at each end of said receptacle; means for mounting said pistons all so arranged and connected up that the thrust by either piston will' be caused to impingeupon the springs successively, step by step.

2..A vehicle spring comprising two receptacles; a series of boxes in eachy receptacle'; springs in said boxes; pistons at each end of said'receptacle; means for mounting said pistons whereby the pistons when forced into their respective receptacles will act upon the springs successively.

3. A vehicle spring vcomprising a receptacle; a series of resilient members therein differing in power of resiliency; a means for exerting pressure on each end of the series oi' members whereby the impact will be taken up and gradually lessened in force from one member to another.

4. A spring comprising a receptacle; a scries of compressible boxes therein; check valves in the ends of said boxes; springs in said boxes; pistons in each end of said receptacle; a conveyer registering with one of said boxes; a reservoir with which saidv conveyer'also registers,

5'. A spring comprising a series of receptacles; a series of compressibleboxes in each of said ieceptacles; a resilient member in' each of said boxes; pistons at each end of said receptacles; a means for mounting said pistons so connected up that the impact of the pistons on the box with which they come in contact, respectively, will be conveyed, in

less degree, to the adjoining box and from that oneto the next adjoining, etc., gradirally reducing the eect of the impact and the spring, substantially as described.

6. A spring comprising a series of receptacles ;.a series of compressible boxes in each of said receptacles; a resilient member in each of said boxes; pistons at each end of 

